WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
11 November 2010 
 (10-6036) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
RESPONSES TO QUESTIONNAIRE ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
 
Notification pursuant to Article 7.3 of the 
 
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  
 
CHINA 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 9 November 2010, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of the People's Republic of China. 
 
_______________ 
  Outline of System
 
 1. Import licensing in China can be divided into the following categories: 
 (a) import license administration. (b) automatic import licensing. (c) import tariff rate quota administration.  Purposes and coverage of licensing
 
 
2. Import license administration is applicable to all the products subject to import restriction, 
currently including 87 8-digit tariff headings  of ozone layer depleting substances and 
second-hand/used mechanical and electrical products:  
 
84194010 84262000 84281010 85016420 85153190 84431200 89039900 29034910 
84194020 84264110 84281090 85016430 85153900 84431400 89011090 38247100 
84194090 84264190 84284000 85021100 85158000 84431500 89019090 38247400 
84196090 84264910 84286021 85021200 84198100 84431600 84439990   
84198990 84264990 84286029 85021310 84212200 84431980 29031910   
84541000 84269100 84391000 85021320 84223010 84463040 29033990   
84542090 84269900 84392000 85022000 84342000 84472020 29034100   
84543090 84271010 84393000 85023900 84381000 84514000 29034200   
84253190 84271020 85016100 85152110 84385000 84531000 29034300   
84261930 84272010 85016200 85152190 84335100 89011010 29034400   
84261941 84272090 85016300 85152900 84335990 89031000 29034510   
84261942 84279000 85016410 85153110 84341000 89039200 29034600  
 G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
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   Automatic import licensing is applicable to products free from import restriction, but the 
importation of which needs monitoring, including 587 8-digit tariff headings:   
02071100 74082900 84082090 88024010 84414000 85016100 88052900 72209000 
02071200 74091110 87012000 88024020 84418090 85016200 89019050 72210000 
02071311 74091190 87021092 89011010 84431100 85016300 89040000 72221100 
02071319 74091900 87021093 89012011 84431311 85016410 89051000 72221900 
02071321 74092100 87029020 89012021 84431312 85016420 90181100 72222000 
02071329 74092900 87029030 89012031 84431313 85016430 90181210 72223000 
02071411 74093100 87032130 89012090 84431319 85021200 90181291 72224000 
02071419 74093900 87032140 89019021 84431390 85021310 90181300 72230000 
02071421 74094000 87032150 89019031 84431921 85021320 90221200 72251100 
02071422 74099000 87032190 89019041 84431929 85042100 90221300 72261100 
02071429 74101100 87032230 89019080 84431980 85042200 90221400 73041110 
05040021 74101210 87032240 89019090 84439111 85042311 90229010 73041120 
15071000 74101290 87032250 89020010 84439119 85042312 90229090 73041130 
15079000 74102110 87032290 89052000 84439190 85042313 26011110 73041190 
15111000 74102190 87032341 89059010 84439910 85042329 26011120 73042210 
15119010 74102210 87032342 89059090 84451111 85043110 26011190 73042290 
15119020 74102290 87032343 95041000 84451112 85043190 26011200 73042400 
15119090 74111011 87032349 95043010 84451113 85043290 26012000 73044110 
15141100 74111019 87032351 95043090 84451119 85043300 26060000 73044190 
15141900 74111020 87032352 95049010 84451120 85043400 27090000 73044910 
15149110 74111090 87032353 84021190 84451210 85152190 27101110 73044990 
15149190 74112110 87032359 84021200 84451220 85153190 27101120 73061100 
15149900 74112190 87032361 84021900 84452031 85153900 27101911 73062100 
24011010 74112200 87032362 84022000 84452041 85176221 27101912 73064000 
24011090 74112900 87032363 84031010 84454010 85176222 27101921 72202020 
24012010 04011000 87032369 84031090 84459010 85176229 27101922 72202030 
24012090 04012000 87032411 84041010 84459020 85176232 27101929 72202040 
24013000 04013000 87032412 84042000 84459090 85176234 27111100   
24021000 04021000 87032413 84068110 84463020 85176239 27112100   
24022000 04022100 87032419 84068120 84463030 85176299 28182000   
24029000 04022900 87032421 84068130 84463040 85176910 28342110   
24031000 19011000 87032422 84068200 84463050 85177020 31022100   
24039100 04041000 87032423 84079090 84463090 85256090 31022900   
24039900 12010010 87032429 84081000 84542010 85261010 31024000   
48131000 12010091 87033111 84089010 84543010 85261090 31025000   
48132000 12010092 87033119 84089092 84543022 85269190 31026000   
48139000 12010093 87033121 84089093 84543029 85269200 31028000   
56012210 12010099 87033122 84099191 84551020 85301000 31029010   
55020010 12051010 87033123 84099999 84551030 85308000 31029090   
26030000 12051090 87033129 84109010 84551090 86011020 31031010   
27011100 12059010 87033211 84109090 84552110 86011090 31031090   
27011210 12059090 87033212 84118200 84552120 86031000 31039000    G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
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  27011290 23040010 87033213 84122910 84552130 86040019 31042010   
27011900 23040090 87033219 84122990 84552190 87021020 31042090   
47071000 02031110 87033221 84123900 84552210 87021091 31043000   
47072000 02031190 87033222 84137099 84561000 87029010 31049010   
47073000 02031200 87033223 84171000 84563010 87041030 31049090   
47079000 02031900 87033229 84178030 84569010 87041090 31051000   
72041000 02032110 87033311 84178090 84569090 87042230 31054000   
72042100 02032190 87033312 84194090 84571010 87042240 31055100   
72042900 02032200 87033313 84195000 84571020 87043100 31055900   
72043000 02032900 87033319 84196090 84571030 87043230 31056000   
72044100 02063000 87033321 84198990 84571090 87043240 31059000   
72044900 02064100 87033322 84212910 84572000 87049000 72181000   
72045000 02064900 87033323 84223010 84573000 87051021 72189100   
76020000 84431922 87033329 84223030 84581100 87051022 72189900   
74020000 84771010 87033361 84261929 84589100 87051023 72191100   
74031111 84798999 87033362 84261930 84592100 87051091 72191200   
74031119 84807100 87033363 84261942 84593100 87051092 72191312   
74031190 85219090 87033369 84262000 84594010 87051093 72191319   
74031200 90314990 87039000 84263000 84595100 87052000 72191322   
74031300 84193990 87042100 84264110 84596110 87053010 72191329   
74031900 84781000 87042300 84264910 84596190 87053090 72191412   
74032100 84789000 87060021 84291110 84601100 87054000 72191419   
74032200 85171210 87060022 84291190 84602110 87059010 72191422   
74032900 85171290 87060030 84292090 84602120 87059020 72191429   
74040000 85176110 87060090 84294011 84602190 87059030 72192100   
74061010 85176190 87071000 84294019 84602910 87059040 72192200   
74061020 85176212 87079010 84294090 84602920 87059051 72192300   
74061090 85255000 87079090 84295211 84614010 87059059 72192410   
74062010 85256010 87083099 84295212 84621010 87059060 72192420   
74062020 85287110 87084091 84295219 84621090 87059070 72192430   
74062090 85291090 87084099 84295290 84622190 87059080 72193100   
74071000 85299010 87085072 84295900 84622990 87059090 72193200   
74072100 85299090 87085074 84303100 84623110 87060040 72193300   
74072900 85437099 87085075 84791021 84623120 87089991 72193400   
74081100 84073300 87085076 84791029 84623190 88021100 72193500   
74081900 84073410 87085079 84391000 84624119 88021210 72199000   
74082100 84073420 87085089 84392000 84629110 88021220 72201100   
74082200 84082010 88023000 84393000 84629910 88022000 72201200   
 
 Import tariff rate quota administration is appli cable to 45 8-digit tariff headings of grain, 
cotton, sugar, wool, wool top and chemical fertilizer:   
10011000 10019010 10019090 11010000 11031100 11032010 10051000 10059000 
11022000 11031300 11042300 10061019 10061099 10062090 10063090 10064090 
11023090 11031929 10061011 10061091 10062010 10063010 10064010 11023010 G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
Page 4  
 
  11031921 17011100 17011200 17019100 17019910 17019920 17019990 51011100 
51011900 51012100 51012900 51013000 51031010 52010000 52030000 31053000 
31021000 31052000 51052000 51052100 51052900    
 
3. The licensing system currently applies to goods coming from all countries.  4. China does not maintain import quantitative r estrictions which are inconsistent with WTO 
rules or China's accession commitments.  
  
Import license administration is an administ rative measure over products, including ozone 
depleting materials and second-hand/used mechanical and electrical products. Import restriction on ozone depleting materials is applied according to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete 
Ozone Layer . Import restriction on second-hand/used mechanical and electrical products aims at 
protecting public interests,  environment and consumer s' health and safety.  
Import tariff rate quota administration is conf irmed by WTO members with in the framework of 
the WTO Agreements and the negotiations on China's accession. It is an administrative measure over 
certain products. 
 
Automatic import licensing is an  administrative measure over certain products which are free 
from import restrictions but monitoring on importati on and statistics collectio n of which are deemed 
necessary. It is implemented in a way fully consistent with the Agreement on Import Licensing 
Procedures , and there is no restriction in te rms of import quantity or value.  
 
5. There have been no major changes to the le gal framework of import licensing regime since 
the last submission of reply to questionnaire in 2009. Only the catalogues of products subject to licensing procedures were revised.    
Procedures
 
 
6. China does not maintain import quantitative r estrictions which are inconsistent with WTO 
rules or China's accession commitment.    
In 2010, products under import tari ff rate quota administration includ e grain, cotton, sugar, wool, 
wool tops and chemical fertilizer.  
 
I. NDRC promulgate d on 28 September 2009 the Quantities, Application Conditions and 
Allocation Methods of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Grain and Cotton of 2010  in its 
Announcement No. 12 of 2009. MOFCOM promulgated on 28 September 2009 the 
Application and Allocation Methods of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Sugar of 2010  in 
its Announcement No.71 of 2009,  and Implementing Rules on the Administration of Tariff 
Rate Quota for Importation of Wool and Wool Tops of 2010 in its Announcement No. 72 of 
2009.  MOFCOM also promulgated on 27 October 2009  the Quantities, Allocation Principles 
and Application Procedures of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Fertilizers of 2010 in its 
Announcement No. 81 of 2009.  
 II. The tariff rate quota for the next year is issued  to end users before 1 January of the year, and 
the tariff rate quota is valid throughout the whole calendar year. 
  For TRQ holder for grain, cotton and sugar, a TRQ warrant, which should be provided to the 
Customs during Customs clearance, is valid throughout the whole calendar year. TRQ holder 
is entitled to demand extension for warrant from the competent authority if the original  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
 Page 5 
 
 
  warrant expired in case of importation being un finished or business contract not being 
performed, but validity period of the warrant s hould not exceed the end of February of the 
next calendar year. 
  For TRQ holder for wool and wool top, the TR Q warrant is valid for six months within the 
calendar year. However, TRQ holder is entitle d to demand extension for warrant from the 
competent authority if the original warrant expi red in case of importation being unfinished or 
business contract not being performed. The valid ity period of warrant should not exceed the 
end of February of the next calendar year. 
 
 For TRQ holder for chemical fertilizer, the TR Q warrant is valid for six months. However, 
TRQ holder is entitled to demand extension for warrant from the competent authority if the original warrant expired in case of importati on being unfinished. The extension should not 
exceed the calendar year when the TRQ is issue. 
 
III. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, TRQ holders should annually 
return, for reallocation, the unfilled tariff rate quota of the calendar year within the scheduled 
time limit. To ensure that th e allocated tariff rate quota is used for importation, for TRQ 
holders who do not fully use the tariff rate quot a for the year and do not return the unfilled 
tariff rate quota within the scheduled time lim it, their next year quantity of tariff rate quota 
will be reduced accordingly. 
 
IV. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, the period for submission of 
application is 15 days (excluding those to which first come, first served  is applicable). 
 V. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, the time for processing the 
application is two months after the closing date of the period when the submission of 
application is not accepted. 
 VI. For products under import tariff rate quota ad ministration, at least one day remains between 
the granting of the tariff rate quota and the date  of the opening of the period of importation. 
 
VII. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, according to the variety of 
products, the applicant should submit the applica tion to entities with authorization of either 
MOFCOM (sugar, wool, wool top and chemical  fertilizer) or NDRC (grain and cotton) to 
have the application verified. The entities w ill then transmit the application to either 
MOFCOM or NDRC. MOFCOM or NDRC will, through the authorized entities, allocate to 
applicants import tariff rate quota. Import TR Q holders do not have to acquire an import 
license. 
 VIII. The allocation of import tariff rate quota fo r agricultural products is  based on the number of 
applicants, historical import performance, pr oduction capacity and other relevant commercial 
standards, or on the principle of "first come, first served" (wool and wool top). The 
reallocation is based on the principle of "fir st come, first served", according to published 
application conditions. 
  The allocation of import tariff rate quota for chemical fertilizers is based on the number of 
applicants, historical import performance, capacity of production and operation, quota 
utilization record and other factors such as the number of new applicants. 
 IX. For products under import TRQ administration,  no matter whether the exporting country 
issues export permits or not, import licensing procedures are required and the import licensing 
is not automatic. G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
Page 6  
 
  X. Not applicable. 
 XI. Licences are not issued on condition that goods should be exported and not sold in the domestic 
market. 
 
7.(a) There are no quantitative restrictions fo r products under automatic import licensing and 
import license administration. For products under automatic import licensing, so long as the content and format of the application are corre ct, the issuing entity should, to the extent 
practicable, grant the license immediately, or under special circumstances, no more than 
10 days.   
 
 For products subject import license administrati on, the time for granting permit is based on 
the period necessary for making a reasonable judgement on the justification of the import. For ozone depleting materials, it is no more than 10 days, while for second-hand and used 
mechanical and electrical products, time for gr ating the permit usually does not exceed 20 
days, and is no more than 35 days in extreme conditions.  
 (b) For products under automatic import licensing administration, the license can be granted 
immediately upon request. 
   (c) Automatic import license is valid within th e calendar year, but no more than six months. 
However, if the holder needs to have th e license validity period extended in case of 
importation unfinished or business contract not be ing performed, he has to apply to the former 
license issuing body again.  
 
 Import license is valid throughout the whole cale ndar year, and no other limitation attached.    
 (d) The consideration of license application is e ffected by one single administrative organ. For 
products under automatic import licensing and import license administration, the applicant only has to submit the application to the entities authorized by MOFCOM. 
 
8. For products under automatic import licensing, once the State decides to implement 
temporary measures to prohibit importation of certain goods or to restrict the quantity of importation 
of certain goods, the granting of automatic import license will be ceased automa tically on the day of 
entry into force of these temporary measures. The temporary measures will be published thirty days 
before their entry into force. 
 
 For products under import license administration, if the justification for importation is 
believed to be unconvincing, the application may be rejected. The applicant will be informed of the 
rational for the refusal and that they have the right to, pursuant to laws and regulations , apply to 
administrative reconsideration or  initiate administrative lawsuit. 
 
Eligibility of Importers to Apply for License
 
 9. Since 1 July 2004, an automatic registration system has been implemented for any individual 
or enterprise who intends to conduct import and export. For detailed information, please refer to  
Measures for Registration of Foreign Trade Operators, published on 25 June 2004 in MOFCOM 
Decree No. 14 of 2004.  
 
 For products under import license administration,  automatic import licensing and import tariff 
rate quota administration, except for those under state trading administration the importation of which 
can only be conducted by state trading enterprises, any individual or enterprise can apply for import 
license so long as they meet the criteria set for diffe rent goods as published. The lists of state trading 
enterprises are also published.  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Documentation and Other Requiremen ts for Application for Licence  
 
10. For information required to be provided in th e application for import license, there have been 
no changes to ozone depleting materials. For info rmation required for impor t license of second-hand 
and used mechanical and electrical products, documents  include: a) statement of purpose of use of the 
products after importation, b) sta ndardized application form for se cond-hand and used mechanical and 
electrical products, c) copy of business license of the applicant, d) warrant for the manufacturing date of the imported second-hand and used mechanical and electrical products, e) statement by the applicant on the status quo of the imported second- hand and used mechanical and electrical products, 
f) other documents required by relevant laws and regulations, if applicable.  
 
    For information required to be provided in  application for automa tic import license, there 
has been no changes to documentation and other requirem ents for application in this regard since last 
submission of reply to questionnaire in 2009.  
    For information required to be provided  in the application for tariff rate quota for 
importation of agricultural products, please refer to the Quantities, Application Conditions and 
Allocation Methods of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Grain and Cotton of 2010 published on 
28 September 2009 in NDRC's Announcement No. 12 of 2009, the Application and Allocation 
Methods of Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Sugar of 2010 was published on 28 September 2009 
in MOFCOM's Announcement No. 71 of 2009 and the Implementing Rules on the Administration of 
Tariff Rate Quota for Importati on of Wool and Wool Tops of 2010 published on 28 September 2009 in 
MOFCOM's Announcement No. 72 of 2009. 
  For information required to be provided in th e application for tariff rate quota for importation 
of fertilizers, please refer to the  Quantities, Allocation Principles and Application Procedures of 
Tariff Rate Quota for Importation of Fertilizers of 2010 published on 27 October 2009 in MOFCOM's 
Announcement No. 81 of 2009.  
 
11. There have been no changes since last s ubmission of reply to questionnaire in 2009.  
 12. There are no licensing fees or administrative charges. 
 
13. There is no deposit or advance payment requi rement associated with the issue of licenses. 
 
Conditions of Licensing
 
 14. Import license is valid throughout the whole calendar year, and no other limitation attached. 
The validity period for license can be extended once, but no more than 3 months.   The validity period for automatic import license is  six months, and the license is valid only in 
the calendar year when it is issued. However, if th e holder needs to have validity period of the license 
extended in case of importation unfinished or busines s contract not being performed, he has to apply 
to the former license issuing body again. 
  The validity period for import tariff rate quota is one year.    For TRQ holder for grain, cotton and sugar, a TRQ warrant, which should be provided to the 
Customs during Customs clearance, is valid throughout the whole calendar year. TRQ holder is 
entitled to demand extension for warrant from the comp etent authority if the original warrant expired 
in case of importation unfinished or business contract  not being performed, but validity period of the 
warrant should not exceed the end of February of the next calendar year.  G/LIC/N/3/CHN/9 
Page 8  
 
   For TRQ holder for wool and wool top, the TR Q warrant is valid for six months within the 
calendar year. However, TRQ holder is entitled to demand extension for warrant from the competent 
authority if the original warrant expired in case of importation unfinished or business contract not 
being performed. The validity period of warrant shoul d not exceed the end of February of the next 
calendar year. 
 
 For TRQ holder for chemical fertilizer, the TR Q warrant is valid for six months. However, 
TRQ holder is entitled to demand extension for warrant  from the competent authority if the original 
warrant expired in case of importation unfinished. Th e extension should not exceed the validity period 
of the Tariff Rate Quota. 
 
15. For products under import tariff rate quota administration, TRQ holders should annually 
return, for reallocation, the unfilled tariff rate quota of the calendar year within the scheduled time 
limit. To ensure that the allocated tariff rate quot a are used for importation, for TRQ holders who do 
not fully use tariff rate quota for the year and do not return the unfilled tariff rate quota within the 
scheduled time limit, their next year quantity of tariff rate quota will be reduced accordingly.  
   For products under import license administ ration and automatic import licensing, 
non-utilization or a portion of license will not be punished.  16. All licenses listed above are not transferable. 
 
17. There are no other conditions att ached to the issue of a licence. 
 
Other Procedural Requirements
 
 18. There have been no changes since last year.  
 19. There have been no changes since last year.  
 
__________